Tongs



De. 2z, 1931.

L. F. BAASH ET AL 1,837,645

TONGS Filed April 8. 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. '22, 1931. l.. F. BAASH ET AL l 1,837,545

TONGS Filed April 8, 195o Y 2 sheets-sheet 2' 5l A, A5520 f@ 6 Z Patented Dec. 22., 1931 insists" HILLS, CALIFORNIA i 'ronds Application led April 8, 1936. Serial No. @42,541.

This inventionrelates to tools for handling'` pipe and like objects and relates more particularly to tongs Jfor handling and gripping pipe, tubing, etc.

- The usual forms of tongs employed-for operated into gripping engagement With the i casing by lever means at the head. It is undesirable to 'form the head of the common forms 0In tongs very large as itniales the tool unbalanced and inconvenient to operate and handle. Accordingly, the lever mechanism for operatingvthe pipe gripping parts mustY be made comparatively small and With but short leverage. For these and various other reasons it has'been found diiiicultto provide tongs of the character 'referred to that are convenient to handle and which are capable of gripping an object With great force. i

A general object of the invention to pro-V vide tongs that are adapted to grip an object very securely or vvithI greatif'orce, and Which are Well balanced and convenient to handle.

and operate. l 1

Another object of the invention is to .provide a tool of thechara'cter mentioned embodying a gripping element or jaw operated by the operating line lfor operating or'turning thetongs.

It is another object of the invention to provide tongs of the character mentioned in which the operating line for operating and turning the tool and for operating the gripping jaw leaves orpasses from the handle of the tool at a point a considerable distance from the ob] ect engaged by the toolV so that a substantial leverage is obtained for turning or rotating the object. Y

It is another object of the invention to provide tongs of the character mentioned in which the force ,or pull applied to the' tool for turning the tool and for operating the gripping element is increased through the Lawns-Non r. Bai-isn, or Losiiivefnitns, Airn- WILLIAM HMAXWELL, or BEVERLY`` medium of.V a vfluid pressure -niechanism to operate the gripping jaw With great force.A

Another object of the invention is to pro.- videtongs of the character `mentioned that may embody variousforms of l1riechanissms. for utilizing and for applying the, force delivered through the operating line to :putV

pressure on the javv actuating fluid. The construction mayembody toggle means, cam

vmeans, etc., for converting the pullor force applied through the operating line to a forceV for acting on the iiuid pressure mechanism Vfor operating the grippingiavv.

, It is another object of the invention to provide tongs of the'charactermentioned that embody means for supplying fluid to the iiuid pressure means tocompensate for leak-` age,-etc. y Aj` It isa further object of the invention to provide tongs of the character mentioned that include a control orsafety valve for the fluid to prevent the pressure from reaching an excessive amount and'to prevent the j'avv from Y Y Y injuring or crushing a pipe or parthandled by the tongs. Y Y, Q Y fr Other objects and features of our invention vWill be best and more fully understoodfroin Y thefollovving detailed description-oftypical p view of the head portion of the tongs. Y Fig.`

5 is an enlarged transverse detailedsectional viewtaken as indicated by line 5 5; on Fig. '3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6*-@6 on Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a horizontalgdetailed sectional view oi another 'form oi the inven-l tion, andFig. 8 is a horizontal d'etailedvsectional vievv of another form of the invention. Y yThe broader principles of our invention are capable of embodiment in tongs and tools of various characters for-"handling various as limited to theparticular embodiments dei vticula'r IHAfo'rrnfof the Ainvention illustrated :in

425" Y g Aeraftlngleverorhandle'11. 'Illiefbodiy 17in Y position forengagement 'by vthe :grippi types of objects. Further, the invention susceptible of embodiment in tongs or Vtools :for handling objects of various sizes, and the invention contemplates the modification and variation of the parts to suit any particular class of jwork and .is not to be Aconsidered scribed in the following disclosure.

ln .the drawings Werhave .illustrated three simple 'forms of our invention differing freni one another, principally, in theineans Yor mechanisms .for applying or transposing thev pull orfforce from the operating line for operating the tongs, to the'iuid for operating the gripping jaw. The mechanisms ordevi'ces 'for ltranslating the *force `delivered thror'ighthe roperatingfline toy the duid may f sftructionnnd the-inventionis not to 'be con-- struedfas limited tto theiparticular 'mecha-f nisms'iherein setforth for actinfguponthe fluid. f j

AThe form-of Figs. 1 -to f6, inclusive, 'the drawings 1ncludefs,generally, a pipe'encirc'linglhea'd 105 a``fhand le '11, a gripping `element or jaw 12l head 130 fineans '13 'operable' carried Aby the .by anoperatin Line l1L, lor the A1lili-e, Ato act through 'a 'fluid pressuremeans 112i to actuate thejfa'w' "12v, Control or-safety vValve 15 v'for rassure means 'llljfand vmeans 1G the luid f1 for supplying fluid Ito lthe :means 14. e.

The pipe encircling head 10V is intended lfto erigageor surround pi'pe =P,or the like,

and 'carriesthefgrippingj atv 12 yfor grip-pin'gthey pipe. "Thefh'eadlO may be' varied in con-1 struetion'to ada-pt it A:for :handling pipe or other ob e'cts of various classes; In fthe-pan be a simple unitary part of substantially e The vbody u1"? have spaced side parts 19 fandflQ :forming anopening`l20. The side parts 19' and 19"-` may be'substantially parallel and the side wv'al-ls of the Vo'p'eniln'g'20 maybe at ind'parf allelto'slidab'ly carrythe gripping 12.

Thefgate 1i8-of the l'head '1'0 fis in thenature of "a closure `for the opening v2O vand is dedfolretain'f'apipe Pfor'the "'-l the invention illustrated in Y The inner side 220il the gate isY formed to i effectively seat against or engage the pipe P, 1t may be curved to conform tothe con figuration of the pipe and may be provided` 7 AIn p accord-ance `With the .inventiony means With gripping parts in theform of dies 23.

is provided for -releasa'blyfretaining or holding thegate 18 in the closed position. A suitable latch 2l may be pivotally mounted on the` side' part/19a of the body '53o 'cooperate with ajlug' 25 on the outer or free kend of the `gate 18 to releasably hold the kgate in the/ closed position. The latch 24 may be pivo tally mountedina-socket 26 in the side pa r1.

19nu by Vmeans of a pivot pin 27.

An oper ating 4handle28 may bei-provided on'fthe 'router sideofzthe gai-te 18. I f

The .handle 11 is :provided fito the4 means 13 and 14 and to facilitate th'ehandling operationofthe tool.; `The handleV 1'1 is.

preferably provided in connection with' :the body 17 -o'f'thehead 10. vThehandle'11' may be 'formed' integral Withfthe body 17 and pro-r jectsl outwardly or rearwardly 1 from the le'ody Y 1he 'handle 11 lmay be made compara` 17'. tivelyflong.- lIn the preferred formofthe inventionreinforcingorprotective ribs orlpartsl are formed fon vfthehandle 1ljad]acen't the body 17. ln the particular kcase 'illustratedth'erefare tiifospaced reinforcingribs lllr'on one vsideof the handle and spaced Vreinforcingribs 12nM on the 'opposite' side v4of the handle.-

The ribs 11@ a-nd12a may'joinor be continu-f ous With the body 17. Theoute-r-end portion i ofthe handle 11:V may be provided Withfmea-n-s for connection With a 'return line 'TR or'other means forfreturningfthe tongs after actuation;

In Vthe form :of'the invention-fillustrated in the drawings, a `lug'G'jprojectslaterally from the-handlev 1f1fadj-'ao`ent vits'outer endend is provided' with anopening 68 for passing return-lineRQor 'thelike Y 1 'l The gripping element or jaw 12 isslidably carried 'by thehead 10 and-isadapted toengage/orgrip aip'ipe 'Peor the like, tending through the head 10. The jaw 12--s-slidably carried in "efopening20 of'jtli-ebodyland may bea fsnnp'lerig-id'partE aving flat parallel side's28 'to' slid-ably operatie --on 'the side Walls-"of vthe-opening'2O'.A yThe forward or active pipe engagingend of' the javv`f12 pr cerably shaped to edaeotively 1 engage ythe urteiorofthe ypipe P. The active end of' the' jaw 122 'may fbe vcurved Vor' made concave to eng'ageithe vpipea'nd lmaybe provided 'with pipe engagingfor grippingdiesf). Thefinventi-on Vn'iay'includev means forl limiting the movement-'of' the java 12in the opening 20. il.' screw or bolt 31`m'ay extend'fthrought'he side part 19 to projectfrom the'side W-allo'f the :opening 2O into a longitudinal fgroove 32 in aside ofthefjaw The-"moveinentjof the j'aW'12 inopposite direc-'tions is limited by the ends-of the'groove' 32 engaging the screvvl;` f

In the preferred form of thewin'vention;

means is provided for resisting rotationl oli the tool relative to the Vpipe P during the start of operationof the-jaw :12. A spring pressed' pipe engaging member 3 3.maybemountedl in a recess 34 in the activeendcfthe jawv12. toengage the pipe P.' The member 33 may? be provided withgrippingV parts or teeth .to

gripthepipe. f

The means 13Ais adapted to be actuated by theline Lr to act on .the fluid means 14 'to operate the jaw 12 into gripping engagement with the pipe l?, 1 The means13 in the formof theinvention illustrated' in Figs. 1 to 6. inclusive, of the drawingsis in the nature' of lever or toggle means andoperates to convert the lateralpull imparted to theltool'througli the 'line L to an` inward thrust-or `pushlor acting on the means 14. The means 13 Viscarried in -the outer portion of the handle'11 and includes two pivotally l connected links, an outer link 37, and .an inner link 38.V The outer portion of the handlefll may be yoked to havea central slot or opening 39 and spaced side parts 40, The link y37 is `pivotally supported by the side parts 40 of the handle. A pivot pin or bolt 41 may extend transversely between the outer portions of the parts 40 andV throughan opening in the outer portion of the link 41 to pivotally mount thelink on the handle l1. A suitable bushing 42 may be provided on thepin 41j The' inner end of the link 37 is pivotally' connected 4with the inner` link 38 by afpivotpin 43..` The inner end ofthe inner V link 38 is'connected witha rod or stem44 slidable ina longitudinal opening l-in'the handle 11.V The link 3,8 is pivotally connected with theouter end of the rod 44 by a pivotpin v46. y '.The-links 3 7 and 38 are mounted and relatedso that when they areoperated inwardly froma buckled posi` tion toward a position in .alignment with the rod 44they operate or forcev the rod 44 in# wardlyv toward the jaw'12."

Means may be provided: inY connection with 'either of the links 37 or 38 forconn'ec# tion with the operating line .In thepar-A ticular case illustrated aV lug 47 projects outwardly from .the link 3'? adjacentits point of connection with the link 38 for Yreceiving the line L. The lug V47 may have an opening 48 for passing theline. I Alateral pull on the line L tending tovoperate the links inwardly into alignment with the rod `44 from an out positionacts to shiftthe rod inwardly. It is-preferred to providemeans for limiting the inwardmovement cfm-the links 3.7 and 38 to prevent. themgfrom assuming afpoi'sition in direct axial alignment with the-rod`44.V `-Al stop screw. 50lm`aytbe.

provided on `the lug 47'adapted. to engage the link38 'to'limitzthe relativeipivotal movement of the links 371and 38.

The means `14 is provided for-increasing, the force imparted to the -toolqbyf the line la.. through the means 13h50:` operating thev the body 17V communicating `with the-open.-

ing 51%.' The plunger 51 is provided atfthe innerv endv oiftheslidable rod 45 and be formed integral' wit-hthe rod. y The plunger 51 may be ofsmaller diametenthan the rod 44 and slidably fits the walls o'tlieop-ening 51a which `'communicates withthe opening' 45'. The plunger 50'isprovide-dtdact upon fluid', say, oila confined in the opening 51@ and the cylinderA 53. A' packingwgland 54 may be provided in the Vinner end: ci the opening 45 to pack around the plunger 51.`

A suitable check valve 66, is provided inconnection with theline` 63 to allow the ens tranceiof fluidV into theopening ,512.l and to prevent*V` the discharge5oi` fluid -from.y the opening. The screw 64- may .be operatedto forceA fluid lintojthel'opening 51al when the supply offfluid in the opening and cylinder 53 fbecomesreduced or exhausted .through leakage, etc;l The outer endgoi thev reservoir` (i2-may be provided with ajremovable end or-headplate 69 whichimay'be removed to permit illing of thereservoir.;

circling means V 10 may lbeni .the same confstruction as {thatf` described above," .that is, it may include ka body 17 andfa gate 18` for encircling ithevpipel). Thebody .17 mayA oftheormof the invention described above` and mayfincludea piston i5201i, the jaw 12 Y ln, the. form of theinvention illustrated f .in Fig. 7 foi the drawings,. the pipe enoperable inra cylinder 5.3in :the body 1f?.

rlhe 4means ,114fmay' :further include` the plungerfv 51b slidable in an op'eni'ngla com.-

municatingwith the inner end ofthe cylin-V der 53'. A'Isafetyvalve 60 `may"`belpro'- vided in connection with the opening 51a' to prevent the pressure in theopeningla and kcylinder 53 vf rombecoming excessive. Aluid-supply means 16 may be provided in connection 'with themeans 14 forsupplying fluid totheopening- 51a and cylinder 53.

rllhe handle 11'b ofthe form ofthe inventionillustratedgin Figui' may-ibe integral with-the body 17 andjjmay bejofsubstan- 1" tellly. theV same eonetrctioneistlie handle .511 described .lb0ve.. Inet1isz form eli-the;:nven tion the meanSlSPa-ffor acting rlupon the; fluid infthe opening-51afand-dylinderf 53 -iis in the form of a cam meansandineludesfn rod: 414

- carry-ing" the plunger "51'?. f -Llhej plunger. 5.1".

my be ioifmed integral :with the red 244e.

trapped the Kw y TheJ outer end f port-imi 'of @the #handle fl'lbeis piovdedfwith at isl'o't :er lmgienmfgf 71. f'lihe l ji' opel'iing inwardly.

y7:1 fand'rar'rfies int r-t's wouter'A endffilll anti-friction roller 1452. The @roller 72fisi=ro v from the @am mendlmay be formed-integral It "isv Abelieved "tlt tll '.Qpera'tl'onfof Wilrbefeafdily .epprntfrmf the-'fteging detailed description fof that form of: ,the` :in-

y Vent-ion.y Y'Inward mo'vementtofthe .rod y"1:43

v:tnd-lphinge-r llleausedbyrotation offthe earn 7 4@ causes the -luid carried in the openingr 51a and-A cyli-nder 53 lto ecty upontheffp'iston ,f 52 to l force th'e gripping ljaw' :12 finto 'gripping en- -gagernentwith-thepipe In :the .form of thefinvention iilngmfted in Eig'. entf-the drawings the pipe @needing rgsavess j aw 12-121nd- .partsiin connection therewith lnifty bef-theivsame as the forms lof @the-invention Vdescribed.-fab'o've.l `Thiefiorm of the 'inventioninelud's 'ar-lluidi means 14: throughlwhiehathe j described -inY icennection `with the form off the invention illustrated `in Figs. 11'- t'o 6,. inl elusive, :ofthe @drawingsitnd may yaineh'ileet pistonf-f52 .to operate in :a 'cylinder .53 1in-.the bodyfgt'nd 'si' 'p"1i1'riger` v51u elidtible in: an' io'pen'-l ing 51a in the handle 11.

1 fthe form ofttheinventon shown inFgQv l line Ifforoperatingthettonge. *The line" rnyfliveit's end'seeur'ed to nlug Ben" a side of thefhandle 111e and-nay extend outwardly fromtheflugseandth-en ever the outer side if the pulley.TheflineLnaypass later- 'jelly fn-om the eid-edfutlfehendle'ritdniay Ido' be Operte'd for turning the "tongs'nd" yfor. .Y

eausingffinwed finovemetbf the red 44h. l-

"It is believed thatzt'he operettion-ofztheseiin eral forms of; th'einventiondescribed in the foregoing ndisclosure Wi-ll; be ,readily fappew ent. .f1/n3 the for-'1n of theinvention'illustrated operating 'line L Vbe:temployzed ite Ioperate :the gripping f .,fl2fintongripping ien-V 'gagementfwiththe pipeiP nd also 'to turn -vnWe-rdly isY materially increased tion Which Vmay include various forms'ot Vmechanismslfor applying the pull from an operating line, or the like, toV act uponthe Vtorce increasing Huid medium for directly operating the gripping au'. The three mech'- anisms described above'for acting upon the iluid are examples of mechanisms for acting uponV the fluid and are notV to be taken as .v

^ ing, a handle, an object engaging head carlimiting the invention. l.

The control means l5 provides a means for preventing the collapse or distortion of the pipe P through excessive pressure being applied on the gripping jaw l2. rlhe Valve may be set or adjusted to release the pressure in the cylinder 53 upon the pressure reaching apredetermined amount. The means l5 provides for the replenishing ot the opening 5l2t andthe cylinder 53 With iluid. The reservoir 62 and the valve 60 are protected by the ribs lf2a and lla and are' mounted on the handle Where they do not interfere with the handlingor operation of the tool. y

Having described only typical preferred forms of our invention, We do not Wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but Wish toreser've to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or tall VWithin the scope of the 'following claims:

Having described our invention, We claim:

ing, an object engaging means, a gripping element carried by the said means for operation by fluid pressure, and toggle means operable by an operating means tor the tool to develop fluid pressure to operate the gripping element.

2. A tool of the character described including, an object engaging means, a gripping element carried by the said means for operation by fluid pressure, and toggle means operable-by an operating line to develop fluid pressure to operate the gripping element.

3. A tool of the character described including, a handle, an object engaging head carried by the handle, a ,gripping member for engaging the object, and means f or operating the gripping member including a piston connected with the gripping member and operable in a cylinder, a plunger slidable in an opening communicating with the cylinder,

and toggle means for Operating the plunger.

4l. A tool of the character described including, a handle, an object engaging head carried by the handle, a gripping member for engaging the object, and means for operat- 1. A tool of the character described including the gripping member including a piston on the gripping member operable in a cylinder, a plunger slidable in an opening communicating With thefcylinder, and toggle means` on. the handle :tor operating the plunger. k; if f 5. A toolfof the character described including, a handle, an objectengaging head carried by the handle, a gripping member for engaging thenobject, and means for operating the gripping memberincluding a pistonon thegripping member operable in -a cylinder in the head, a. plungerslidable in yanopening communicating with the cyl- Ain'der, andlever means for operating the plunger; v

6.r A toolk ofthe character described includriedby the-handle, a gripping ymemberi'or engaging the' object, and means for operating the. gripping member? including va piston on lthe gripping memberioperable in a cylinder in the head, a plunger slidable vin an opening in the 4handle communicating Withthe cylinder, and levery means on th handletor operating the plunger.v y j 7. A tool of the character described including, ajhandle, an 'object engaging head carried by the handle, a gripping member for ing the gripping member Aincluding' a pis-` ton connected Withv the gripping member loperable in a` cylinder, a; plunger `slidablev in ari-opening communicating with the cylinder, and toggle means for operating the plunger, the cylinder being of larger diameter than the opening.

8. .Aj toolfof the `character ,described iin- .cluding, a. handle, ,an object engaging `head carried by the handle, a gripping element .for

engagingzthe object, means for operating the gripping elementlincluding, a Vpiston connect-ed with the 4grippingelement operable in a: cylinder, a plunger 'slidable lin. an opening communicating `vvithA the 'cylinder, toggle means for-operatingthe plunger, and a safety lvalve in connection; with .the opening. .1 i

A9. Axtooljot the` characterdescribed .includingya handle, anY object engaging Vhead carried by the handle, a gripping element for engaging the object,'means for operating the gripping.; element including, a Vpiston connected withV the `gripping elementoperable in al cylinder, aiplunger slidable in an opening communicating'with thecylinder, toggle means tor operating thelplunger',` and means for supplying 'fluid to theyopening and cyl-V inder. 1. Y

10. AV tool lof thechara'cter describedlincluding, a handle, `an'object engagingl head carried bythe handle, a gripping element for engaging theobject, means for operating the gripping ,element including, a piston connected With the gripping,elementV operable in a cylinder, a plunger slidable in an openiso' ing communicatingy with the. cylinder, vtoggle meansi on the handle Vfor toperating .the plunger, and means for supplyingzuidto the opening andfcylin'derincluding, a ui'dfreservoir.

119A tool-of the rcharacter described including, a handle, an object engaging head carried by the Vhandle, ai grippingl member forV engagingthefobject, and means for operating the' gripping member includingfa piston'connected with: the gripping member, operablein'. a. cylinder',a Vplunger slid'a'ble'in 'an-opening communicatingwith the cylinder,

an'dlmeans for. operating the plunger includ.; ing, ltwo "pivotally connected links, onegflink beinO'f connected with the lunOer.

y 12. A tool of the character described-in.,- cluding", a handle, San obj ect-'engaging head carried; by the, handle, ag grippingmember for engaging. :the i fobj ect, A andffmeans for operat ing r'the 'grippingi member. including.: ar piston connected: with? thee'gripping memberfo-per'- able in a" cylinder," aplungerl slidable Ain-` lan opening f communicating w'vith the' cylinder, and means foroperatingtthe plungerincluding, twofpiyotally connected links, one link being supportedE by the Jhandle, the other lbeiingconnectedfwith the -plunger.-. 1 'i ='1-3.y iA tpoljofsthecharacter: describedgincluding, a handle, i an objectf engaging' head carried bylthefha-ndle, a gripping member for engaging the object, and. meansfor yoperating the gripping-member including a piston. connected; Withxthev f gripping :1nember,1 Voperable int :a: lcylinder, a plungerf'slidablein :an open ing; j'communicating with?V the: cylinder,= 'and means for operating the plungerfinc'luding two pivotally connectedlinks at the-:outer end of the, lilandle,k one link being. supported by.the,handlei,"V heother being connectedlzwith the plungerp" 'i' Y otherflink being connected toithe'rod.

cluding, ahandle, an Yobject engaging/headl carrie'diby the handle, a grip-ping :member yfor engaging fthieobjecd and meansffer 'operati ring the gripping member including a piston connected-:Withfthei gripping member, operableinrafcylinder, a plunger-.slidable in an opening. communicating1 With the cylinder, and'fmeans for Operating-the' plunger, including"a sli'da'ble rodi' 'in 'the vhandle carryingthe plunger, and ftWofV p'ii'f'et'a'lly connected'lin'ks in anopeiiing ir the handle, one-linkf-being s'up ported by the handle, .the otherlinkbeing connected'tothe rod;` ff 16. A tool efpthe character described.- including, a handle, an object 'engaging head carried by the handle, a gripping member for engaging the object, and' means l' for operating. vthe'gripping*member including a piston cohnectedzwith vthe V`griliiping member, operable ink a cylindeigja plunger slidableinan opening communicating "With the cylinder, andmeans l for operating the plunger, includ'- ing, :tWo' pivctally connected links, one'linl beingy supported on the handle, the other linkibeingconneetedj With theplunger, and means ron vone'of the links forconnectionwith an; operating,v member. y 1 17. 4A;'tool'oiithe characterdescribed ,l including, a handle, anrobject engaginghead carriedby the handle, v a gripping-member.

for engaging. the object,xandfm`eans for' op; erating theV grippingv member vincluding a piston- .connectedf with the operable in a cylinder, a plunger slidablein anl opening communicating VWiththe cylinder, and means for'bperating the plunger,r in.- cluding, two pitii-ally* connected links, :one link being supported; on the handle, the other linlr'being connectedewith,the plunger,` and means limitingrelative. piyotalunovement offzthexlinksi'r f In Witness that .We claim the foregoing We havehereunto subscribed our names thisth day-ofpril;y 1930; 'i

gripping member, 

